Indicator for internal combustion engines



Feb. 2', 1932.

F. W. SMYTH INDICATOR `FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES ...ET-g. 1.

Filed Jan.

Inventor Y /v worin/z Patented Feb. 2, i932 nar-fr 7 'marsa `ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM CHARLES PRETTY, OFLNIAGRA FALLS, ONTARIO, CANADA 'Y Y INDICATOR,'FOR'INTEBNLL COMBUSTIGN ENGINES Application led January 6, 1S30. YSeria1 1\Io.`418,885.r

The invention relates to improvements in indicators forl internal combustion engines as described in the present specification and shown inthe accompanying drawings which ,5 term part of the same,

In setting the valves of an internal combustion engine it is essential that they 'be properly seated upon the -valve, acings before adjustment ismade. At the moment of tiring-,thepiston of `a cylinder is at the top dead centre` and as a result is in an ideal position forfthe setting, of its valves. i This position, however, cannot bereadily-deten mined, particularly when an engine is ot multiple cylinder type such as used orvauto mobiles. i

vIn an application filed by me S'erial Number 372,791, dated June 21st, 1929, for Indicators for internal combustion engines I disclosed an-indicatornfor this purpose. The

which is designed to be more readily removed for substitution of a diiferent dial for changing to a different iring order.

As in the previous application this invention embodies an electro-mecl'ianical arrangement for connection to the ignition circuit in order to signal the firing position of the piston and also to indicate the particular piston of a block brought to top dead centre. Moreover, by turning the crankshaft ofthe engine the pistons are successively brought to their firing position to enable a mechanic to properly set the valves.

Referring to the drawings; Figure 1 is a side elevation of the invention.

Figure 2 is a face view thereof.

Figure 8 is a sectional view through the casing showing the construction andV arrangement of the mechanism.

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse section taken on theline 4 4 of Figure 3, omitting the dial. i Y

Figure 5 is an elevation of the dial.

Figure 6 is an edge view thereof.

Figure 7 is a detail illustrating a pair of terminals for the electric circuit.

Like numerals of lreference indicate colrey spending parts in each of the gures throughoutv the drawings.- Y

In the drawings, the vreference numeral 10 generally denotes fthe casingvwhich maybe of any suitable shape or design such as that illustrated in order tovhouse the various parts. This casing has al glass front 9 preferably held inY a ring 1,0 threadedly engaged'on an annulus '11 so thatit may be readily de-v tached.: 'The back 12 ofthe casing is removably secured in place by means of fastening elements 13 engaging lugs 14.

` 1.5 is a clamping device for attachingvthe casing to a part of aninternal `combustion engine, which clamping device preferablyz embodies ka ball-and-socket joint as at 16 in order that it may swivel.

17 is a slot extending transversely of the top of the casing in closelproximity to the glass front 9. Inserted throughy this slot is a dial 18 consisting of asubstantially flat plate having itstop edge bent over to form a flange as at 19. IntegiMaLwith` the top edge'is a ringer grip portion'20 whereby the dial Can be readily inserted and removed from the casing. Onfeach side of the casing is a Vertical guide as at 21 comprising a flange 22 against which the dial is pressed by a Hat spring 23 so as to securely hold it in place f and `prevent its vibration. Inscribedon the dial is a circular arrangement of numbers designated atA denoting the firing orderv of a particular engine. It may bejdesirable to inscribe a tiring orderl on'one lface -and a different firing order on the other face of thei dial so that by simply reversing the dial two ditl'erent orders of'firing may betaken carev It is ance maybe given forthat particular engine such as exemplified" at B in order to serve as a ready reference. y i

In practice it is proposed'to have a num'f ber of these dials corresponding tlo'particu- Fries i realiseren WILLIAM sierra, 'or NIAGARA' FALLs-cNTARId' CANADA, AssIe-Non L=oF suggested thatiin conjunction the tiring order of an engine the valve clear-.-

set so asto takecare of the" variousv tiring orders and numbers of vcylin-V ders used on standard interna-l combustion engines.

24 designates a spindle which is horizontally arranged and disposed concentrically with respect to the circular arrangement of numbers denoting the firing order of an engine on the dial. The frontal end of' the spindle projects through a vertical slot 25 in said dial and carries a pointer 26. This pointer operates over the frontal face of, the dial in or'- der to coincide with the numerals thereon as it is rotated in a clockwise direction. The spindle is extended through an opening in the back 12 of the casing and has an integral knob 27 by which it may be manually set. The spindle is mounted in a supporting structure 28 which bears all, electro-magnet 29. 30 is a terminal of the screw type fitted to the back 12 ofthe casing and connected to a wire 31v leading to the electro-magnet. The other part of the circuit is grounded to, the casing. A wire 32, @,Xtends from the terminal 30 for connection to the distributor of the engine. 33 is an armature pivoted at 34 to the supporting vst ructure 2.8 and horizontally a1?- rang-ed So that upon energization of the magnet it will be raised through a small angle of movement.

35 is a ratchet fixedly secured on the spindle 2 4. which ratchet is engaged by a pawl 3G held by a spring 37. This paw-l prevents retrograde movement of the ratchet. 38 is a resilient click iixedly secured to the armature 33 and ext tended verticalliT therefrom so to normally engage the ratchet 35. By this construction, upon energization of the electro-magnet 29 the attraction ofthe armature 33 imparts a turning movement tothe ratchet 35 rotating it a distance ofV one tooth.

Upon deenergization of the magnet the armature drops back by gravitation intoits normal position.

39 is a bellv fixed to the casing and designed to be struck upon by the striker 40 integral with or secured to the armature 33. 41 is a lamp socket secured to the casing and bearing a bulb 42. One of the terminals of the socket is grounded to the casing while the other is electrically connected to the binding post 43. This binding post is normally connected to the terminal screw bv a plate 44 in order that the lamp may be lift coincidentally with the energization of the electro-magnet. This plate ispivoteol on the member 30 and has a slot 45 whereby it may be detached from the binding post 4 3 when it is desired to operate the light by means of an independent circuit. To do thisY it is` mere-lyy necessary to slacken the binding post- 43 and swing the plate away from it to the position indicated in dot and Y dash lines-7 Figure 7: thereupon a separate circuit wire as at 46 is connected to this binding post 43, so as.f to separately energize the lamp. Y

To employ this invention, the casing is attached to an engine by means of the clamp 15 and the wire 32 is electrically connected to the distributor. The pointer 26 is so set that upon turning the crankshaft until a piston reaches top dead centre, the energization ofl the electric magnet 29 will shift the pointer to indicate the particular piston of the block.

Whereas the invention has been shown and described in its application as indicator for denoting the firing orders ofl pistonsy of' an internal combustion engine it is also applicable for setting the spark, or what is generally known as spark timing.

l. In an indicator, a casing having a slot, a spindle therein, a pointer aiixed to said spindle, guides disposed within said casing and led to the slot therein, said guides each including a flange and a flat Spring; and a dial inserted in said slot and lodged between the vflange and spring of each guide, said dial being slotted to fit over the spindle to the rear of' the pointer.

2. In an indicator', a casing having a slot a spindle therein,A a pointer aiiixed to said spindle7 guides disposed within said casing and led to the slot therein, a flat dial inserted in said slot and lodged in said guides, said dial being slotted to fit over the spindle to the rear of the pointer, and an external finger grip integral with said dial.

Signed at Niagara Falls, '0-n-tario,` this sixteenth day of December, 1929.

FREDERICK WILLIAM SMITH. 

